Steak Barn will reopen doors

Karen and Scott Adams with their son Jack stand outside of their restaurant Steak Barn in Goldsboro. After closing for a brief time they will be reopening to serve their customers.

The Steak Barn, a landmark Goldsboro restaurant that served patrons for more than 40 years, is reopening after shutting its doors in July.

Owners Karen and Scott Adams say they want to make the new Steak Barn a return to the fine dining experience originated by its founder, Karen's father, Horace Smith.

Smith started the restaurant in 1968 and it was known for decades for its quiet atmosphere and good food. It was a favorite spot for reunions and other parties. Adams said he wants the restaurant to again give its customers the feel of upscale dining that his late father-in-law created, adding that former customers have "bombarded" its owners since its closure with questions about its future.

The future, he said, is based on its past.

"We want to honor (Smith's) legacy and the way he did things," Adams said. "We want to go back to the basics he started. Candles on the tables, black angus beef, hand-cut at your table. We want to bring that atmosphere back. We want to offer a dining experience, not just a place to get a steak. People still know what good food is."

Adams said the new menu also will reflect the return to the fundamentals. Gone will be the chicken and seafood. Steak is what The Steak Barn is all about, Adams said.

"You find something you do good and stick with it," he said.

The restaurant's pace will be a little slower, the Adamses said. Given the rush of today's society, people are looking for a place to relax, slow down and enjoy themselves, they said.

"We want to get back to some of the finer things in life," Adams said. "We want to serve people a great steak, give them a great salad bar and have a great experience dining with friends."

The Steak Barn will be open on Friday and Saturday nights, from 5-9:30 p.m., at least for the time being, Adams said.